What improved your work the MOST?

There are 3 things you should do to improve your Photographic Work - unfortunately, no one knows what they are...

LOL...

My take: uUe a Pentax K-1000 for at least 10 years.

I don't know your equipment list, but if you have any EF lenses - go and by a used Rebel film camera body (I managed to buy one off e-bay for $25 shipped to replace one I had sold off back in the day).

Use it in MF mode and Manual Exposure for a bunch of rolls, both B/W and different color (Fuji, Kodak) - throw some slide film in.

You'd be surprised what you get when you switch back to digital..

gkarris wrote in post #10493161
There are 3 things you should do to improve your Photographic Work - unfortunately, no one knows what they are...

LOL...

My take: uUe a Pentax K-1000 for at least 10 years.

I don't know your equipment list, but if you have any EF lenses - go and by a used Rebel film camera body (I managed to buy one off e-bay for $25 shipped to replace one I had sold off back in the day).

Use it in MF mode and Manual Exposure for a bunch of rolls, both B/W and different color (Fuji, Kodak) - throw some slide film in.

You'd be surprised what you get when you switch back to digital..

On gear: I have Rebel XSi (digi) and a Rebel Ti (film). Kit lenses from both. Two primes (Canon 35 f/2 and 50 f/2.5), a Tamron 28-75 f/2.8. Plus an older Canon zoom (70-300). One speedlite (430 exii) and an older Vivitar flash. That, various and a sundry filters, and cheap tripod pretty much constitutes my gear. (Well, I also have a Nikon N55 and it's kit lens...but that camera has been unreliable.... Hence, I became a Canon girl.)

I haven't really shot film in a while...but all this advice has me thinking about it. Especially since I have some on hand. Hey, if I use it up...even if I don't get amazing shots, I'll have more room in the fridge, right? I've NEVER shot slide film.

I HAVE been trying to climb out of the Av hole, and stay in Manual more often. My weakest link is probably post processing, but I have learning room in every possible area. I know I'm discarding A Lot of what I shoot.

If I'm honest, and I might as well be, even though I've always loved photography (I remember crying for my Mom to buy me film when I was tiny)... and I've been shooting with an slr for about 5 years (dslr for about 1 year)... I've only gotten serious about learning in the past couple of months. I know it will take time...but I WANT to learn!

Thank you all. This is an awesome (knowledgable, welcoming, talented...) forum.

~L.

Shooting modes don't really matter, use whatever it takes to get the shot. I think Joe McNally shoots in Av like 95% of the time according to his literature.

mikekelley wrote in post #10493808
Shooting modes don't really matter, use whatever it takes to get the shot. I think Joe McNally shoots in Av like 95% of the time according to his literature.

yes.. because he already knows how exposure works. for those who are not well-versed in photography, one of the easiest ways to learn is to manipulate individual variables free from automation so you can directly see the effects of each function on a frame. it is much harder to become more versatile with your photography in P mode rather than M mode. so yes, shooting modes do matter.

LauraBella wrote in post #10493775
I've NEVER shot slide film.

Shooting slide film will really make you think about every frame. It's very unforgiving.

I started out shooting b/w and doing my own darkroom work, and if a shot didn't quite turn out, I could do a little extra in the darkroom to make it work. And with colour processing, whoever is doing the developing can do a bit of tweaking for you. But slides? They're developed as-is. Definitely a learning experience!

alt4852 wrote in post #10493915
yes.. because he already knows how exposure works. for those who are not well-versed in photography, one of the easiest ways to learn is to manipulate individual variables free from automation so you can directly see the effects of each function on a frame. it is much harder to become more versatile with your photography in P mode rather than M mode. so yes, shooting modes do matter.

I've seen some consistently amazing photographs from people in full auto. If you know how the mode works and can utilize it to it's fullest, use whatever it takes.

the ability to 'see' is far more important than the ability to spin dials.

both are important but i wouldn't say it's a shortcoming to not really use full manual all the time. if you understand how a mode works and why you're not going to have much trouble getting the images you want. just use whatever works best for you in a given situation.

mikekelley wrote in post #10494022
I've seen some consistently amazing photographs from people in full auto. If you know how the mode works and can utilize it to it's fullest, use whatever it takes.

the ability to 'see' is far more important than the ability to spin dials.

both are important but i wouldn't say it's a shortcoming to not really use full manual all the time. if you understand how a mode works and why you're not going to have much trouble getting the images you want. just use whatever works best for you in a given situation.

Key Point .. Well Said

The more I really study the work done by those I admire most, the more I find that they are much more into the moment and the quality of the light and far less concerned with how to get from Lens to Screen or Page.

mikekelley wrote in post #10494022
I've seen some consistently amazing photographs from people in full auto. If you know how the mode works and can utilize it to it's fullest, use whatever it takes.

the ability to 'see' is far more important than the ability to spin dials.

both are important but i wouldn't say it's a shortcoming to not really use full manual all the time. if you understand how a mode works and why you're not going to have much trouble getting the images you want. just use whatever works best for you in a given situation.

i'm not saying that automated modes don't have their place (i probably use Av 40% of the time), but from personal experience, i've found that the best way to learn how each dial affects your final result, the easier it is to translate what you "see" into what shows up on your screen later. for me, manual mode was the most efficient way of really understanding the exact consequences of changing a particular setting.

i don't think anyone has even implied that not using full manual all the time is the ultimate goal, but i do think it's one of the most useful tools we have at our disposal to learn how to use our equipment to record what we see.

I'd say having your work published is the most useful thing. It makes you really think about what you're doing and why.

So far for me it has been books, tripod, 580exII and classes.

I took a semester long class at the local community college and it was priceless. We were to shoot a minimum of 200 shots per week and assemble 36 into a contact sheet for review. I work full time and take care of my son when I am not at work so 200 shots a week can seem a little brutal, but it was well worth it. He pushed us to do studio, landscape, portraiture, experimental and gave valuable feedback. If it was a crap portfolio or contact sheet he would tell you and typically you would realise that yeah I took the easy road on that one.

I would like to join a local photography club but they all meet during weeknights when I work.


Find a class and take it if you can.

Join a photography club.

Get a book - the library is free!!

for me, reading books and going to forum to see what other people do and learn the good from them and take the bad (that you perceive) away have helped me a lot.

I started putting more interesting things in front of my camera. My cats and kids are much happier as well!

irishman wrote in post #10494432
I started putting more interesting things in front of my camera. My cats and kids are much happier as well!

Funny...

There is something to be said though for making the effort to go to where the photo ops are and not settle for what's immediately around you.

Your "Arches" shots prove that...

irishman wrote in post #10494432
I started putting more interesting things in front of my camera. My cats and kids are much happier as well!

Hilarious. Especially since I swear my golden "rolls her eyes" when I take her picture!